Leica V-Lux 20 unboxing

Leica V-Lux 20 is already available in several stores (the Leica SIS in Palm Beach where this video was recorded still have some in stock). Of course no product is official until the unboxing video is posted on YouTube:

I unbox cameras all the time given i work in a camera / lab store and its hilarious that leica even used the panasonic packaging and just re did the design on the box. Atleast provide the famous leica packaging or redo it. Truly a sticker job and I feel nothing but pity for anyone that is stupid enough to buy this camera.

John

Yes, this is the same thing as the the Panasonic ZS7, but so what? Some people like it from Leica because they like the brand and prefer to hold a Leica instead of a Panasonic. Apparently that’s something certain people don’t get, so they have “pity” on them and think of them as “stupid” people.

Eric Pepin

It is stupid. If nikon was rebadging some 500 dollar slr and charging me over a grand as a d90 then I would be furious. Those people you mention are too concerned with what others think of them and looking better then there poorer friends. The reason to buy leica is quality and history, this little panasonic has neither. Maybe if it had a genuine leica lens but the “leica” panasonic lens is made in japan in the same place that the non leica panasonic lenses come from, they are no different. The M9, S2, and X1 are geniune and high quality leica cameras, this little point and shoot is a panasonic , and anyone paying for the leica version is lying to themselves.

John

If there aren’t any “stupid” people out there who’re willing to buy this kind of cameras which can provide Leica with some additional nice profit, we wouldn’t be seeing anything so revolutionary like the M9 or the 50 .95 lens. Leica has always been financially problematic and hey, if there’re people who’re willing to spend the money, why not? Otherwise we’d be sitting on our chairs and wondering when they’re gonna come up with another high quality product. You need to start looking at the picture as a whole and stop thinking ahead of yourself son. Its not always about being so damn smart hence judging others with what they like to buy. These kind of things are very objective and you gotta start respecting others.

Ben

First, there are people who want to buy a Leica and they don’t want to/ or can’t buy a 2,000 to 10,000 dollar plus camera. Maybe they want to join a Leica forum, flickr group, etc. Maybe they just like the look of the camera. Maybe some people have an excellent m43 camera and do not need the X1. May be its the lack of anti-aliasing on the M9 that makes the pictures sharper but people can’t afford it and want to use Leica, Zeis, etc glass on a four thirds camera.
As for what is a genuine Leica camera, any Leica digital camera whether its the X1 or M9 etc, its guts minus the glass still come from Asia even if it’s assembled in Germany. Only a film camera appears to be fully made in Germany. So, even if, for example, the Lieca website states that the X1 is a true Leica camera, is the fact that it is hand assembled in Germany make it a true Leica. Where do people choose where the slippery slope argument ends? Just to throw it out there, if a low end Lexus is made in the US and a high end Toyota is made in Japan, which is genuine as to that brand?

Eric Pepin

I have to disagree with both of you. The leica brand is now more associated with panasonic then it is with quality. I talk to dozens of ppl every day at my job about cameras and leica is not something that makes a camera any better, its just assumed its the type of lens the camera has. The panasonic rep told me they pick and choose which panasonic models to put the leica brand on the lens of so that those look better. Above a arbitrary price point they stick the logo on, below they leave it off. If your willing to spend that much to join a flickr group then go for it, im sure you could spend less and change your meta data to say any leica model you wanted though if your willing to go that far to join a online group. I know leica makes a shit ton of money and thats fine, also it does fund things like the S2 and eventual M10 but none the less it is washing out the brand. I can not afford the camera anyways so my opinion means nothing , im sure these will fly off the shelves in some rich neighberhoods but that doesent change the core problem with this. Leica markets itself as the best made highest quality photography product period. Not just a good camera but the best, highest quality, sharpest, and best looking. A point and shoot that costs between 250 – 300 to produce with a panasonic lens is not that. I have no problem with people wanting to pay 200 percent premium because they can, if you have that much money you probably dont care but dont pretend its actually a leica. I rather save for twenty years and buy a mXX before i cop out like that.

Ben

It appears you have somewhat moderated your position from your first post. Initially, you had “nothing but pity for ANYONE that is stupid enough to buy this camera.” Now you “have no problem with people wanting to pay 200 percent premium because they can, …” So, at least you don’t have pity for the people who can afford it and don’t pretend to have a real Leica. Seems like John’s post may have contributed to this modification. If you talk to Leica rep, I’m sure they’ll give you a different take (different metal casing, firmware, software, warranty, support, etc. which would contribute to about a 100 to 150 difference in price.) It is a point and shoot after all, not sure Leica can do much more with it. The sensor is so small (compared to the S90) that a Raw option would be appear to be pointless. Bottom line, if Leica wants to give it their name then its a Leica . Regardless of whether a parent has a natural born child or adopts, the child carries the family name. If the official Leica Fotografie International website, allows you to post and compete with cameras ranging from the M9, S2, Manual and the V-Lux, that sounds like a good endorsement to me. If you are going to wait and pay 8,000 more for the Mxx with a Kodak sensor, I hope its worth paying that much for not coping out. I believe some Leica film enthusiasts would have a different view.